The Numbers Game: A statistical comparison of Virender Sehwag and Rohit Sharma In ODI cricket

He had no fear. He treated every bowling attack he faced with a sense of nonchalance and decimated even the best bowlers of his time. Virender Sehwag was a colossus who struck fear in the hearts of bowlers during his playing days.

In an ODI career that spanned 251 matches, the batting legend scored 8273 runs and scored them at an average of 35.06 and a whopping strike rate of 104.34. The ‘Nawab of Najafgarh’ also scored 15 hundreds and 38 fifties in the ODI format of the game.

After the retirement of Sehwag, many were wondering whether any other batsman could dominate the bowlers in the manner in which Sehwag did. And then, came a man also called the ‘Hitman’ to carry on from where Sehwag had left off. After the departure of Sehwag, Rohit Sharma has emerged as a batsman who can make bowlers shudder.

The ‘Hitman’ has featured in 227 ODI matches for India and has scored 9205 runs at an average of close to 50. Rohit Sharma is also the only batsman to have plundered 3 double centuries in ODI cricket as well.

But then, how does Rohit Sharma fare when pitted against Sehwag? In this article, let us do some number crunching and compare two of India’s most destructive batsmen in the ODI format.

Overall Record of Virender Sehwag and Rohit Sharma in ODIs

First up, let us take a look at the overall record of Rohit Sharma and Virender Sehwag in ODI cricket in the table below.

One look at the overall record suggests that Rohit Sharma is ahead of Virender Sehwag in almost all the parameters. In spite of playing 25 innings lesser than Sehwag, Rohit Sharma has already scored 932 runs more than the ‘Nawab of Najafgarh’. Also, Sharma has scored almost double the number of hundreds that Sehwag scored in his career, and has also plundered 5 fifties more than Sehwag.

One place where Sehwag has the upper hand though is the strike rate. While Sehwag scored his runs at a strike rate of 104.34, Sharma’s strike rate in ODI cricket is 88.90.

Records of Virender Sehwag and Rohit Sharma in Home and Away Conditions in ODIs

Now, let us slowly go a little deeper. Let us analyze the records of these two behemoths in ODIs played at home and ODIs played away from home. The two tables below will illustrate the same.

Records of Virender Sehwag and Rohit Sharma at home in ODIs

As far as numbers at home are concerned, Rohit Sharma is miles ahead of Virender Sehwag. Even though he has played 20 innings lesser than Sehwag, the ‘Hitman’ has already scored 573 runs more than Sehwag. Also, while Sehwag averaged only 35.82 in ODIs played at home, Sharma averages a colossal 61.32. Sharma has also scored more than 2 times the number of hundreds that Sehwag scored at home, and has also plundered one fifty more than Sehwag.

Yet again, one area where Sehwag has the upper hand over Rohit Sharma is the strike rate. Sehwag’s strike rate was 106.69 in ODIs played at home, whereas Rohit Sharma’s strike rate is 99.20.

Records of Virender Sehwag and Rohit Sharma away from home in ODIs

In matches played away from home as well, Rohit Sharma has an edge over Virender Sehwag. While Sehwag scored 5228 runs at an average of 34.62 in 158 innings played away from home, Rohit Sharma has scored 5587 runs at an average of 43.31 in 153 innings. While Sehwag scored 10 hundreds and 24 fifties in away ODI matches, the ‘Hitman’ has amassed 18 hundreds and 28 fifties.

However, in terms of scoring rate, Sehwag is way ahead of Sharma. While Sehwag scored his runs at a strike rate in excess of 100, Sharma has scored his runs in away ODIs at a strike rate of 83.30.

Comparison of Virender Sehwag and Rohit Sharma in the ODI World Cup

The World Cup is the most important event in the ODI format of the game. The stakes are higher, the pressure rises by a few notches, and all the teams in the world give their absolute best to get hold of the coveted World Cup Trophy. So, when the stage gets bigger, how have Rohit Sharma and Virender Sehwag fared?

In World Cup cricket too, Rohit Sharma is miles ahead of Sehwag. In spite of playing 5 innings lesser than Sehwag, Rohit Sharma has scored 135 runs more than Sehwag. Also, while Sehwag averaged only 38.31 in World Cup cricket, the ‘Hitman’ averages a whopping 65.20. Sharma has scored 3 times the number of hundreds that Sehwag scored in World Cup cricket, and both these batting legends have scored the same number of fifties in World Cup matches as well.

Records of Virender Sehwag and Rohit Sharma in an ODI win

Next up, let us analyze the numbers that Virender Sehwag and Rohit Sharma have generated in an ODI win for India in the table below.

While Virender Sehwag has generated excellent numbers in an ODI win for India, Rohit Sharma’s numbers are even better. Sehwag played 131 innings in an ODI win for India and plundered 5748 runs at an average of 46.35 and a strike rate of 109.52. 14 out of Sehwag’s 15 ODI hundreds resulted in a win for the Indian cricket team.

On the other hand, Rohit Sharma has scored 6424 runs in an ODI win and has scored his runs at a staggering average of 60.03. The ‘Hitman’ has scored 22 hundreds and 28 fifties in a win for India in ODI cricket. Surely, Sharma is ahead of Sehwag in this parameter too.

Records of Virender Sehwag and Rohit Sharma in a run chase in ODIs

In an ODI run chase, a batsman will have to constantly shift gears to keep up with the required rate to overhaul the target set by the opposition. In the table below, let us take a look at the records of Sehwag and Rohit Sharma in an ODI run chase.

Rohit Sharma is yet again ahead of Virender Sehwag when we look at the numbers of both these batsmen while chasing in ODI cricket. While Sehwag scored close to 4000 runs in an ODI run chase and scored his runs at an average of 32.38 and a strike rate of 101.91, Sharma has scored 4968 runs in a run chase for India and has scored his runs at an average of close to 50 and a strike rate of 86.29.

Also, Sharma has scored exactly twice the number of fifties and hundreds that Sehwag scored in a run chase in the ODI format of the game.

Records of Virender Sehwag and Rohit Sharma in SENA countries

Finally, let us take a look at the records of these two batting legends in the countries of South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia also called the SENA countries. These are challenging places for Indian batsmen to score runs. The two tables below will reveal the numbers of Sehwag and Sharma in ODIs played in SENA countries.

Virender Sehwag’s record in SENA Countries

Virender Sehwag could not enjoy much success in the SENA countries in ODI cricket. The belligerent batsman averaged below 30 in 3 out of the 4 SENA countries. Also, in Australia, England, and South Africa, Sehwag could not score even a single ODI hundred.

It was only in New Zealand that Sehwag enjoyed a considerable amount of success, and scored 598 runs in just 12 innings at an average of 54.36. The ‘Nawab of Najafgarh’ also scored 3 hundreds and 2 fifties in the 12 innings that he played in the land of the Kiwis.

Rohit Sharma’s record in SENA Countries

Rohit Sharma has a way better record than Sehwag in Australia and England. The ‘Hitman’ has scored a colossal 1328 runs in the land of the kangaroos and has scored his runs at an average in excess of 50. Sharma has also scored 5 hundreds and 4 fifties in Australia.

In England, Sharma’s numbers are even better. The right-hander has scored 1335 runs in ODIs played in England, and has scored his runs at an average of 66.75 and a strike rate of 89.72. Also, 7 out of Sharma’s 29 ODI tons have come in England.

Sharma’s record in New Zealand is only a decent one. He averages 36.42 in the Kiwi land and has scored 437 runs in 13 innings. While he has not scored a single ODI century in New Zealand, Sharma has scored 4 half-centuries. And finally, Sharma’s record in South Africa is abysmal. He averages below 20 in 13 ODI innings played in South Africa, and his strike rate too is ordinary at 68.45. He has scored a solitary ton in 13 innings played in South Africa.

In Conclusion

Virender Sehwag was a behemoth of Indian cricket and was a pivotal part of the Indian side during his playing days. And, Rohit Sharma has raised the bar for consistency even higher and has generated better numbers than Sehwag in ODI cricket.

Rohit Sharma still has a lot of cricket left in him and is well on his way to becoming one of the greatest batsmen to have ever worn the blue jersey for Indian in the ODI format of the game.

Note: All the stats have been taken from Cricinfo and Howstat Cricket and have been updated as on 22nd May 2021.